Door actuating mechanism



March 21, 1939. LEMON 2,151,430

DOOR ACTUAT ING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Hank 7? Lem n,

I/UATTO EY.

March 21, 1939. LEMON 2,151,430

DOOR ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: 5017A 7!. Lemon,

fl/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE noon ACTUATING MECHANISM Frank R. Lemon, Lemon Park, Indian Lake, Mich. Application September 9, 1935, Serial No. 39,746

18 Claims.

the door.

Third. to provide a door operating mechanism which is simple and economical in its parts, efficient and effective in operation, and rugged and serviceable in construction.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan view of a door actuating mechanism embodying features of my invention, the electric circuits being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism mainly in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary tranverse section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in longitudinal section Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the parts in driving relation.

Fig, 6 is a similar view showing the parts in non-drivingrelation with the doors closed.

' Fig. 7 is a similar view with the parts in nondriving relation with the doors opened.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pendant control.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the right hand portion of Fig. 4.

In the door actuating mechanism illustrated by the drawings, I is a building such as a garage, having hinged doors 2 which are adapted to swing outwardly in opening, and inwardly in closing. My invention is not limited to the operation of doors of this type but includes other types of doors, being particularly suitable for operating in; a substantiall doors 2.

y horizontal plane relative to the Such horizontal movement of the frame is resiliently resisted by spring means 6 associated with the front way and the frame, the spring means acting to hold the frame in its normal position. Slideably mounted on the frame and adapted to reciprocate thereon is a door operating carriage I connected to the doors by arms 8.

This carriage is driven by a chain 9 passing around a pair of sprockets I and I I mounted near opposite ends of the frame, the carriage and chain being connected by a link l2.

The connection between the carriage and chain is such that the carriage is reciprocated by a continuous movement of the chain, the link when in line with the centres of the sprockets locking the carriage against movement relative to the frame. This locking of the carriage locks the doors in closed or open position, as the case may be.

A control rod I3 is disposed longitudinally relative to the frame for limited longitudinal movement, the movement of the control rod relative to the building I being limited by a bracket I4 and a stop I fixed to the rod. A certain amount of movement of the rod relative to the bracket is permitted to enable the rod to perform its control function.

A motor [6 for driving the chain is mounted at the rear end of the frame and has a drive shaft I! provided with a small floating pulley I8 longitudinally moveable thereon. The rear sprocket II is connected to a large pulley I9, this pulley and the small pulley being connected by a belt 20. The small pulley constitutes a driven clutch member adapted for co-action with a driving clutch member 2| fixed to the shaft of the motor. The small pulley or driven clutch member I8 is urged into clutch engaging position by biasing means, such as a coiled compression spring 22 surrounding the motor shaft.

A control lever 23 is pivoted to the frame at 24 and has an arm 25 projecting into the groove of the small pulley to move the pulley from clutch engaging position when the lever is actuated. The lever also operates a circuit controlling switch comprising a stationary contact 21 and a moveable contact 28, the latter being mounted on the arm 25 of the control lever, Thus when the clutch is closed the motor is energized, and when the clutch is opened the motor is deenergized.

The control lever 23 is operated by a cam 29 of a pendant 30 pivoted at 3|, the pendant actuating the arm 25 to clutch opening position when the pedant is rocked in either direction from the normal. A finger 32 is pivoted to the pendant at 33 to swing at right angles to the movement of the pendant when actuated by the armature 34 of a solenoid 35, the armature being provided with a slot 36 for the movement of the finger with the pendant.

The control rod is provided with a projection 3'! for engaging the finger and rocking the pendant when the control rod is moved relative to the frame, or the frame is moved relative to the control rod. The solenoid is temporarily energized through a control circuit including a starting switch 38, the energization of the solenoid actuating its armature to momentarily swing the finger beyond the projection, so that the biasing means 22 acts to close the clutch and energize the motor through the control lever 23.

The carriage is provided with a cam 39 which is adapted to engage cam followers 4|! and 4| on the control rod to move the control rod and rock the pendant through the projection and finger, thereby opening the control switch and clutch at the end of the stroke of the carriage. Thus the operation of the starting switch initiates an'automatic sequence of operation, resulting in the opening or closing of the doors, as the case might be, without further attention. The frame has a bracket 42 for co-action with a stop 43 on the control rod for the purpose of limiting the movement of the control rod relative to the frame, and for establishing a control connection between the frame and control rod when the frame is actuated.

An obstruction to the movement of the doors, tending to stop the carriage in transit, acts to cause the driving mechanism to swing the frame from its normal position relative to the control rod. This rocks the pendant through the projection and finger, thus automatically opening the clutch and de-energizing the motor.. The continued activation of the doors maybe readily accomplished by removing the obstruction and moving the doors slightly by hand, this assists the biasing means 22 in overcoming the friction of the rod [3, resulting in the restoration of the drive.

My door operating device is very effective, automatic and fool-proof. An obstruction to the opening of the doors automatically opens the drive and stops the mechanism. Thus, injury to the mechanism and to the obstruction is prevented. The parts necessary are comparatively few in number, and are simple, making the device very economical to manufacture and maintain.

I claim:

1. A door actuating mechanism comprising a rear hanger, a front way on a level with the lower end of said hanger, a frame pivoted to the lower end of said rear hanger and slidably connected to said front way so that the frame is free to swing back and forth, spring means resiliently resisting such movement of said frame, a door operating carriage adapted to travel relative to said frame, a continuous member, a link connecting said carriage to said member, the connection being such that the carriage is reciprocated by a continuous movement of the member, a control rod disposed longitudinally relative to the frame for limited longitudinal movement, means limiting the movement of said control rod relative to the front way,

- a motor mounted on said frame for driving said member, a clutch connecting said motor in driving relation to said member, biasing means urging said clutch to closed position, a control lever pivoted to said frame and acting to move'the clutch to open position when said lever is actuated, a circuit controlling switch operated by said lever and adapted to energize said motor only when the clutch is closed, a pivoted pendant having a cam coacting with said lever to actuate said lever to clutch opening position when the pendant is rocked from the normal, a finger pivoted to said pendant to swing at right angles to the movement thereof, a solenoid having an'armature provided with a slot for the movement of saidfinger with said pendant, a projection on said control rod for engaging said finger and rocking said pendant when the control rod is moved, starting means for temporarily energizing said solenoid to actuate its armature to momentarily swing said finger beyond said projection so that said biasing means acts to close the clutch and energize the motor, any stoppage of said carriage in transit acting to cause the drive to swing the frame from its normal position relative to the control rod,

thereby rocking said pendant through said pro-.

jection and finger and automatically opening the clutch and deenergizing the motor.

2. A door actuation mechanism comprising a said lever is actuated, a circuit controlling switch operated by said lever and adapted to energize said motor only when the clutch is closed, a pivoted pendant having a cam coacting with said lever to actuate said arm to clutch opening position when the pendant is rocked from the normal, a finger pivoted to said pendant to swing at right angles to the movement thereof, starting means to momentarily swing said finger beyond said projection so that said biasing means acts to close the clutch and energize the motor, a cam 1 on said carriage, and cam followers on said control rod adapted to be engaged by said cam near the end of the carriage stroke to move said control rod and rock said pendant through said projection and finger, thereby opening the switch and clutch, the stoppage of said carriage in transit acting to cause the drive to swing the frame from its normal position relative to the control rod,

thereby rocking said pendant through said projection and finger and automatically opening the clutch and de-energizing the motor.

3. A door actuating mechanism comprising a rear hanger, a front way on a level with the lower end of said hanger, a frame pivoted to the lower end of said rear hanger and slidably connected to said front way so that the frame is free to swing back and forth in a substantially horizontal plane, a door operating carriage adapted to travel on and relative to said frame, a control member mounted on said frame for longitudinal movement relative thereto, means limiting the movement of said control member, a carriage driving motor mounted on said frame, and motor controlling means responsive to said control member, an unauthorized stoppage of said carriage in transit acting to cause'the motor to swing the frame from its normal position relative to the control member to stop the motor.

frame, a door operating carriage adapted to travel on and relative to said frame, a pair of sprockets mounted near opposite ends of said frame, a chain passing around said sprockets, a link connecting said carriage to said chain, the connection being such that the carriage is reciprocated by a continuous movement of the chain, a control rod disposed longitudinally relative to the frame for limited longitudinal movement, a motor mounted on said frame and having a shaft provided with a floating pulley, a large pulley connected to the rear sprocket, belt means connecting said large pulley and said floating pulley, said floating pulley beinglongitudinally moveable on said shaft and constituting a driven clutch member, a driving clutch member being fixed to the motor shaft, biasing means urging said floating pulley into clutch engaging position, a control lever pivoted to said frame and acting to move the pulley from clutch engaging position when said lever is actuated, a circuit controlling switch operated by said lever and adapted to energize said motor only when the clutch is'closed, a pivoted pendant having a cam coacting with said lever to actuate said lever to clutch opening position when the pendant is rocked from the normal, a finger pivoted to said pendant to swing at right angles to the movement thereof, a solenoid having an armature provided with a slot for the movement of said finger with said pendant, a projection on said control rod for engaging said finger and rocking said pendant when the rod is actuated, starting means for temporarily energizing said solenoid to actuate its armature to momentarily swing said finger beyond said projection so that said biasing means acts to close the clutch and energize the motor, a cam on said carriage, and cam followers on said control rod adapted to be engaged by same cam near the end of the carriage stroke to move said control rod'and rock said pendant through said projection and finger, thereby opening the switch and clutch.

5. A door actuating mechanism comprising a swinging hanger, a way on a level with the lower end of said hanger, a frame pivoted at one end to the lower end of said hangerand slidably connected at the other end to said way so that the frame isifree to move back and forth, spring means resiliently resisting such movement of said frame, a door operating carriage adapted to travel relative to said frame, a motor mounted on said frame for driving said carriage, and means controlled by the position of said frame for controlling said motor, any stoppage of said carriage in transit acting to cause the drive to swing the frame from its normal position, thereby de-energizingthe motor.

6. A door actuating mechanism comprising in combination, a supporting frame for the entire mechanism, a door operating carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said frame, a carriage driving motor fixed to said frame, a. motor control member movable relative to said frame, means acting to open the electrical power supply circuit of said motor when said control member is moved, means acting to open the mechanical driving connection between said carriage and motor when said control member is moved, means acting to cause said carriage to move said control member near each end of the travel of the carriage, means supporting said frame for limited movement in line with the direction of travel of said carriage, cushioning means resisting such movement of the frame, and means acting to cause said frame to move said control member when said frame is moved to a certain extent in either direction.

'7. A door actuating mechanism comprising in combination a supporting frame for the entire mechanism, a door operating carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said frame, a carriage driving motor fixed to said frame, a motor control member movable relative to said frame, means acting to open the power supply of said motor when said control member is moved, means acting to open the mechanical driving connection between said carriage and motor when said control member is moved, means acting to cause said carriage to move said control member near each end of the travel of the carriage, means supporting said frame for limited movement in line with the direction of travel of said carriage, cushioning means resisting such movement of the frame, and means acting to cause said frame to move said control member when said frame is moved to a certain extent in either direction.

8. A door actuating mechanism comprising a supporting frame for the entire mechanism, a door operating carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said frame, a carriage driving motor fixed to said frame, a motor control member movable relative to said frame to stop said carriage, means acting to cause said carriage to move said control member relative to said frame at each end of the travel of the carriage, means supporting said frame for limited movement in line with the direction of travel of said carriage, cushioning means resisting such movement of the frame, and means acting to cause said frame to move said control member to stop said carriage when said frame is moved to a certain extent in either direction.

9. In a device of the character set forth, the

combination with a door actuating mechanism,

and a frame supporting said mechanism, of a swinging hanger supporting one end of said frame, means slidably supporting the other end of said frame, said means and hanger permitting longitudinal movement of the frame, means resiliently resisting such movement of the frame, and means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said frame for controlling said door actuating mechanism.

10. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a door opening and closing carriage, and a track on which said carriage is adapted to travel back and forth, of means supporting said track for limited longitudinal movement, opposed cushioning means holding said 5 track in normal position, a control member mounted on said track for movement relative thereto, a motor fixed to said track, means including a clutch connecting said motor to said carriage, means including an electrical supply circuit for energizing said motor, means responsive to said control member for opening said clutch and said circuit when the control member is moved either by said carriage or by said track, means acting to cause said carriage to move said control member near each end of the stroke of the carriage, and means acting to cause said track to move said control member when the track is moved from its normal position.

11. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a door opening and closing carriage, and a track on which said carriage is adapted to travel back and forth, of a control member mounted on said track for movement relative thereto, a motor fixed to said track, 1;

means including a clutch connecting said motor to said carriage, means including an electrical supply circuit for energlznig said motor, means responsive to said control member for opening said clutch and said circuit when the control member is moved by said carriage, and means acting to cause said carriage to move said control member near each end of the stroke of the carriage.

12. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a door opening and closing element and a supporting track for said element, of a motor fixed to said track for driving said element, means supporting said track for cushioned longitudinally movement, a power supply circuit for said motor, means including a clutch connecting said motor to said element, and means responsive to said element for opening said power supply circuit and clutch as the element approaches the end of its travel on said track, said last namedmeans being also responsive to longitudinally movement of said track so that the stoppage of said element in transit results in the breaking of both the mechanical connection between the motor and said element and the electrical connection between the power supply and said motor, causing the element to stop at once free of the motor which idles to a stop.

13. In a door actuating mechanism, the combination of a motor driven shaft having a driving clutch member thereon, a small pulley 'journalled to said shaft for longitudinal adjustment and constituting a driven clutch member adapted to co-act with said driving clutch member, a large door operating pulley belted to said small pulley, means normally biasing said driven clutch member into engagement with said driving clutch member, a control lever having an arm projecting into the groove of said small pulley to move said driven clutch member free of engagement with said driving clutch member when said lever is actuated, said biasing means tending to maintain the control lever in actuated position, a motor circuit controlling switch associated with said lever, door controlled means acting to hold said lever in actuated position, and a push-button controlled relay for releasing said lever to set the mechanism in door actuating operation.

14. In a door actuating mechanism, the combination of a motor, a clutch member connected to said motor, a driven clutch member associated with said driving clutch member, door operating means connected to said driven clutch member, .a lever adapted when actuated to move said driven clutch member free of engagement with said driving clutch member, means biasing said driven clutch member into engagement with said driving clutch member, said means acting to hold said lever in actuated position, a motor controlling switch associated with said lever, a relay acting when energized to release said lever, and means controlled by said' door operating means for actuating said lever.

15. In a door actuating mechanism, the combination of a. motor, a spring closed clutch, a lever for opening said clutch, door operating means connected 'to said motor through said clutch, means acting to hold said lever in actuated position with said clutch open, means controlled by said door operating means for moving said lever to actuated position, a relay for releasing said lever, and a motor control switch I on said track, a motor mounted on said track, v

a driving clutch member fixed to the shaft of said motor, a driven clutch rotatably mounted on said motor shaft for longitudinal adjustment and constituting a small pulley, a belt connecting said pulleys, spring means urging said driven clutch member into engagement with said driving clutch member, a lever pivoted to said track for moving said driven clutch member out of engagement with said driving clutch member, control means for actuating said lever and holding it in actuated po-sition, means including a relay for releasing said lever, said control means being responsive to longitudinal movement of said track as well as longitudinal movement of said slide under overload conditions as it approaches the end of its stroke, and a control switch for said motor associated with said lever. V

17. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a door actuating mechanism, and a frame supporting said mechanism, of a swinging hanger supporting one end of said frame, yieldable means supporting the other end of said frame, said means and hanger permitting longitudinal movement of the frame with said means resiliently resisting such longitudinal movement, and means responsive to the longitudinal'movement of the frame under overload conditions for controlling the door actuating mechanism.

18. In a door actuating mechanism, the com-' bination of a horizontal track, means supporting the track for limited horizontal movement, spring means resisting such movement, a door operating slide mounted on the track, means for reciprocating the slide along the track including a motor mounted on the track and a clutch between the motor and slide, a switch for controlling the motor, means for releasing the clutch and opening the motor switch, means actuated by the motor for actuating the clutch releasing and switchopening means when the carriage reaches its door open or door closed position on the track, and further means associated with the track and switch for opening said switch when the track yields under overload conditions when the carriage is being actuated in either direction.

FRANK LEMON. 

